SUBJECT: BOR Policy 2:10:5 Academic Amnesty

ATTACHMENT I

2

SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS

Full Board

AGENDA ITEM: O - 3

DATE: October 19–20, 2006

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SUBJECT: BOR Policy 2:10:5 – Academic Amnesty

Board Policy 2.10.5 Academic Amnesty guides the application of academic amnesty. (Attachment I) As written, the policy is being interpreted to apply only to those students requesting amnesty for enrollments within the Regental system. The proposed changes clearly specify that amnesty may be awarded for enrollment at any institution of higher education if specified conditions are met.

The proposed policy has been reviewed by the Academic Affairs Council and the Council of Presidents and Superintendents and the Executive Director recommends approval.

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RECOMMENDED ACTION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Approve the proposed policy changes to BOR 2:10.5 to specify that amnesty may be awarded for enrollment at any institution of higher education if specified conditions are met.

SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS

Policy Manual

SUBJECT: Grades and Use of Grade Point Averages (GPA)

NUMBER: 2:10

1.  Undergraduate Grades

Undergraduate Grades will be assigned to the undergraduate academic level and to all courses and sections with course numbers ranging from 001 to 499. Plus and minus grades are not used.

An audit (AU) grade may be granted only when the student has elected the AU option on or prior to the census date of the term.

A credit (CR) grade may be granted only for non-course credit that is not related to an examination or to equating transfer grades to the BOR grading system. This grade is not used for any Regental university course.

An examination for credit (EX) grade may be granted only for non-course credit validation obtained through a validation process. This grade is not used for any Regental university course.

An incomplete (I) grade may be granted only when all of the following conditions apply:

a.  A student has encountered extenuating circumstances that do not permit him/her to complete the course.

b.  The student must be earning a passing grade at the time the Incomplete is necessitated. Anticipated course failure is not a justification for an incomplete.

c.  The student does not have to repeat the course to meet the requirements.

d.  The instructor must agree to grant an incomplete grade.

e.  The instructor and student must agree on a plan to complete the coursework.

f.  The coursework must be completed within one semester; extensions may be granted by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

g.  If the student completes the course within the specified time, the grades that may be assigned are A, B, C, D, F, S, RS, RU, or U.

h.  If the student does not complete the course within the specified time, the grade assigned will be F (Failure) or U (Unsatisfactory) or RU (Remedial Unsatisfactory) if the student had requested S/U within the time specified in BOR policy 2:6.9.

An in progress (IP) grade may be granted only when all of the following conditions apply:

a.  The requirements for the course (for every student enrolled in the course) extend beyond the current term.

b.  The extension beyond the current term must be defined before the class begins.

c.  The instructor must request permission to award IP grades for a course from their Department Head and Dean, and then approval must be obtained from the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

d.  A definite date for completion of the course must be established in the course syllabus.

A grade of NG will be used only with those course sections that are designated as Tracking/Program Sustaining (Q) and those that are assigned the code for Master’s Research Problems/Projects Sustaining, Thesis Sustaining, or Dissertation Sustaining (U).

Remedial grades (RI, RS, RU) may be granted only for courses numbered 001 to 099.

A Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grade may be granted only when the entire course requires the S/U grade or the student has elected the S/U option on or prior to the census date of the term.

2. Definition and Calculation of Grade Point Averages

The following grade point averages are calculated each academic term (Fall, Spring, Summer):

Institutional GPA—based on credits earned at a specific Regental university. Utilized to determine if degree requirements have been met and to determine Honors Designation at Graduation.

System Term GPA— based on credits earned at any of the six Regental universities within a given academic term (Fall, Spring, Summer). Utilized to determine minimum progression status.

Transfer GPA— based on credits earned and officially transferred from an accredited college or university outside the Regental system. When a letter grade that normally calculates into the grade point average exists for a non-academic course (e.g., credit earned via examination), it will be included in the transfer gpa.

Cumulative GPA— based on all credits earned by the student (transfer credit plus system credit). Utilized to determine minimum progression status and to determine if degree requirements have been met.

When a course has been repeated for credit, all attempts will be entered on the transcript but the last grade earned will be used in the calculation of the Cumulative grade point average (See also 2:5.11).

3. Minimum Progression Standards

Minimum progression standards and related actions are based on the student’s cumulative grade point average and system term grade point average.

1.  A student with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better is considered to be in good academic standing.

2.  If a student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 in any academic term (i.e. fall, spring, summer), the student is placed on academic probation the following term.

3.  While on academic probation, the student must earn a system term grade point average of 2.0 or better.

4.  When a student on academic probation achieves a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better, the student is returned to good academic standing.

5.  A student on academic probation who fails to maintain a system term grade point average of 2.0 or better is placed on academic suspension for a minimum period of two academic terms.

6.  Students on academic suspension will not be allowed to register for any coursework at any Regental university except when an appeal has been approved by the Regental university from which the student is pursuing a degree. An approved appeal granted by one Regental university will be honored by all Regental universities. Also refer to policy 2:3.3.G Probation/Suspension of Students.

7.  Only Academic Suspension will be entered on the student’s transcript. Academic probation will be noted in the internal academic record only.

Progression and graduation are contingent on satisfactory performance on the Proficiency Examination. Refer to policy 2:28.

4. Minimum Progression Standard Report

A Minimum Progression Standard Report will be submitted to the Board of Regents each October. It will contain information on the number of all undergraduate students in Regental universities in Good Standing, Returned to Good Standing, Placed on Probation, and Suspended during the previous Summer, Fall, and Spring terms. Subdivisions of this report will provide information on non-traditional students who did not meet baccalaureate admissions requirements, students admitted as exceptions to baccalaureate programs, and students admitted to associate degree programs.

5. Academic Amnesty

The goal of academic amnesty is to respond to the academic needs of matured individuals as they develop newly identified potential. Through the application of academic amnesty, the student’s prior academic record can be excluded from current work under certain conditions.

Eligibility:

To be eligible, T the student must:

1.  be an undergraduate, full-time or part-time, degree-seeking student at one of the universities in the South Dakota Regental system.

2.  not have been enrolled in any Regental university postsecondary institution for a minimum of three calendar years (9 consecutive terms including Fall, Spring, and Summer) prior to the most recent admission to the home institution. Exceptions may be granted in rare cases only by the Board of Regents Senior Administrator upon recommendation by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

3.  have completed a minimum of 24 graded credit hours taken at any Regental university with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for the 24 credit hours after the most recent admission to the home institution.

4.  not have earned a baccalaureate degree from any university.

5.  not have been granted any prior academic amnesty at any Regental university.

6.  submit a formal Academic Amnesty Petition to their home university following the procedures established by that university.

Conditions:

1.  Academic amnesty does not apply to individual courses.

Academic amnesty may be requested for either (a) all previous postsecondary education courses, or (b) all previous postsecondary education courses at a specific postsecondary institution, or (c) a specified time period not to exceed one academic year (Fall/Spring) completed at any postsecondary institution(s).

2.  Academic amnesty, if granted, shall not be rescinded.

3.  Courses for which academic amnesty is granted will:

a.  remain on the student’s permanent record.

b.  be recorded on the student’s undergraduate transcript with the original grade followed by an asterisk (*).

c.  not be included in the calculation of the student’s grade point average because no credit is given.

d.  not be used to satisfy any of the graduation requirements of the current degree program.

4.  Academic amnesty decisions will be made by the student’s home institution, will be honored by all programs within the home institution, and will be honored by all other institutions within the South Dakota Regental system.

5.  Universities outside of the South Dakota Regental system are not bound by the academic amnesty decisions made by the South Dakota Regental system.

6.  Regental graduate programs and graduate professional schools may consider all previous undergraduate course work when making admission decisions.

6. Dean’s List Designation

Undergraduate, full-time students may be designated for the Dean’s List at the end of the fall and spring terms. The Dean’s List designation is determined by the home university and is based on a student’s total course registrations for academic credit for the term from any Regental university. The Dean’s List designation does not appear on the transcript.

To be awarded Dean’s List designation, students must meet the following guidelines.

1.  Students must have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours in courses numbered 100-699 during the term.

2.  Students must achieve a System Term GPA of at least 3.50.

3.  Students with F, I, U, RI, or RU grades are not eligible regardless of System Term GPA attained.

7.  Academic Recognition for Undergraduate, Part-Time Students

Undergraduate, part-time students taking fewer than 12 credits per term may be designated for Academic Recognition for Part-Time Students at the end of the fall and spring terms. The Academic Recognition for Part-Time Students designation is determined by the home university. The Academic Recognition for Part-Time Students designation does not appear on the transcript. To be awarded the Academic Recognition for Part-Time Students designation, students must meet the following guidelines:

1.  Students must have completed at least 12 credit hours prior to the current semester at one or more Regental institutions.

2.  The student must have earned at least 3 and up to 11 credit hours of 100-699 level courses during the term.

3.  Students must achieve a System Term GPA of at least 3.50.

4.  Students with F, I, U, RI, or RU grades are not eligible regardless of System Term GPA attained.

8. Honors Designation at Graduation

Baccalaureate Degree

The institution granting the degree determines the Honors Designation for its graduates. To earn an Honors Designation at graduation the undergraduate student must meet both the following cumulative and institutional grade point averages:

Summa Cum Laude equal to or greater than 3.9

Magna Cum Laude equal to or greater than 3.7 and less than 3.9

Cum Laude equal to or greater than 3.5 and less than 3.7

The undergraduate student must have completed a minimum of 64 credit hours at the institution granting the degree. Courses that are part of a formal collaborative agreement among Regental universities are considered to be earned from the institution granting the degree. Also refer to policy 2:29.

Associate Degree

The institution granting the degree determines the Honors Designation for its associate-level graduates. To earn an Honors Designation at graduation, an associate-level graduate must meet both the following cumulative and institutional grade point averages:

With highest honor equal to or greater than 3.9

With high honor equal to or greater than 3.7 and less than 3.9

With honor equal to or greater than 3.5 and less than 3.7

An associate-level graduate must have completed a minimum of 32 credit hours at the institution granting the degree. Courses that are part of a formal collaborative agreement among Regental universities are considered to be earned from the institution granting the degree. (Also refer to BOR Policy 2:29.)